Wait up - I want to see what Matt does before advancing things any further.

Lightly as only an elf can be, Gwaitlim makes his way up the hillside to join with the others. "Regardless of our path, the Shadow makes its presence known for other torog are..." his voice trails off as he finally sees what the Men have been yammering about. "I hend-o belegoth!" he spits in a white fury.  "That is a relic of the our greatest foe -- the one to whom the throne of Barad-dur was but a servant.  That *must* come down but touch it little lest its power corrupts.  Find whatever you can to break it.  It is little wonder the dark creatures have flocked to this area."

  Hmmm can luck prevail?
 

Craft -  1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 1, total 5

If either Enemy of Sauron/Elven-lore can help with this as well, take all the help we can get.

  Welp, that's where trusting to luck gets you

I think that is a whole lotta nothing for all of us! Not one success to be seen, and an hour spent doing it. Okay, if it is still eligible, I will spend the on my last Craft test which should give us one success. Now for another...

---

Esgalwen continued to bring log and branches to the base of the cliff, helping to hand each up to the Men and Elf above, in hopes that one of the pieces would have the strength to topple the totem.

---

TN 14 craft 2d

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 6, total 9

And BAM! With bases loaded and two outs, she comes through with the clutch.

I am not sure but that might be 2 successes? That would make 3 if my was allowed on her previous attempt. If not, I will update my sheet and put the point back.

Though the soil is hard and the stones many and large, still the company manages to dig the standing stone out until its base is revealed.  Back and hands sore, Arbogast stands and stretches, regarding the efforts of his friends to find timbers to lever the stone from its resting place.  These, however, have been fruitless.  Examined closely, the trees that grow so close to this waypost of the Shadow are sickly things, and their branches crack and crumble beneath the hands of Men and Elf, let alone the stress of toppling the stone. 

At last, however, Esgalwen returns with several long branches across her shoulder and triumph plain on her face.  "I've found a Rowan tree, ripped from the ground by a troll I'd wager.  These branches were snapped off, and their wood is strong but supple.  More could be shaped and sharpened with the firewood hatchet."   


In fact, it's four successes with Esgalwen's Hope spend, three without - Arbogast led off with a completely unexpected success. 

EDIT: I should've added that I've - ed Esgalwen's sheet for the AP for the second roll.  Doug, let me know if you still want to spend the Hope point - it'll mean another AP but, y'know, also spending Hope. 

"The ranger finds a way!" This seems a better tool than our meager efforts. I have not the skill apparently, but direct where I should push and pull and I am at your service."

Okay, now your roll and Hathcyn's reaction fit into the story. 

I'll drop in another roll for Arbogast, too:

Despite the use of sturdy levers, another half-hour of heaving and struggling establishes that the stone will not move without more of the hard-packed soil being removed from beneath it.  Cursing and sweating even in the mountain air, the companions take up their crude digging tools once again. 


So, part way through hour two, you have three (possibly four - Doug, let me know!) successes, with Esgalwen and Gwaithlim still to roll. 

I would prefer saving her as Rangers get back so little. I know it puts more strain on the task, but I have to be wary.

My sheet on my end has the point back and she has her 11

Let me know if she is allowed to test again.

Pulling her rope from the pack on her back, Esgalwen wraps it around the totem and pulls it taut in the opposite direction of the lever. The Ranger made to stand just out of the way of any pieces that might roll down towards her and she called to the Elf, "Gwaithlim - aid me in pulling as the others try to topple the stones."

---

TN 14 craft 2d

1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 3, total 7

Damn! this world really wants her to spend her resources! All right - I commit to one for sure. My Hope score is back to 10

That should have us at 4 successes in two hours (?)

Gwaithlim offered a prayer to Aule for strength and Elbereth for courage as he put is ageless back to the task.

 
 

Craft -  1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 4, total 7

I'll toss a Hope if it will help; this is a task demanded of him by his soul.

  Invoking Skill of the Eldar brings my roll to a great success at minimum because of rolling a 

Nice! Great success - does that make 6 total?